"Possibly the most violent film ever" and "Saw by way of Se7en" announce the critical blurbs on the DVD cover. Sounds promising, I like both of those movies and Stellan Skarsgård's work, so a rental was an easy choice, it being the Halloween month and all. In the end, there is a lot to like in w Delta z (which will from now on be referred to as "wAz" for simplicity's sake), at least for thriller fans with strong stomachs.
Like many serial killer tales, wAz (also known as The Killing Gene) follows two detectives as they investigate a series of gruesome murders of brutal lowlife figures in a big city. All the cases are connected with a mathematical equation featuring the eponymous "w delta z" carved into the flesh of the tortured and disfigured bodies. With the combined skills of a hardened veteran cop Eddie Argo (Stellan Skarsgård) and an idealistic rookie Helen Westcott (Melissa George), the murder spree starts unwinding and soon appears to be related to Eddie's past as a dirty cop...
Right from the first scene it becomes obvious that wAz is a strongly visual film. The nocturnal streets of the city are lit with beautifully designed lighting, the foremost ruling colour being strong green. Yellow is also utilized in creating a sinister mood during the numerous night scenes, while the day scenes are often tinted cool blue or urban gray. Despite the excellent cinematography, the hectic camera work never allows the viewer to properly relax and enjoy the visuals. The constant shakycam roaming is always a sure opinion divider; personally, I don't mind the technique if it is used tastefully, but in wAz it often feels more annoying than atmospheric. Generally speaking, long static shots force the audience to focus on what is happening on the screen without giving them a chance to hide between the shaking and quick cuts to different angles. This kind of raw presentation style free of distractions could have fit in this movie excellently, although then the violent scenes would probably have rocketed the age rating through the ceiling.
Speaking of the violence, it is detailed and plentiful (though doesn't exactly live up to the quote at the beginning of this review): blood, burns, cuts and other kind of injuries are given a decent amount of attention over the course of the story. The final scenes could be straight from the Saw series, while the more atmospheric investigation scenes derive more from David Fincher's suspenseful serial killer cat and mouse chase Se7en (1995), right from the relationship of the protagonists (veteran + rookie, although this type of dramatic pairing has been used for a long time) to the handsomely designed end credits.
The visuals and violence are not the only strengths of wAz, since the acting is generally very strong too. The charismatic Skarsgård oozes menace as the gruff, hardened Eddie Argo who still carries a well-hidden softer side and a sense of righteousness under the tough surface. Melissa George's role didn't strike me as memorably, although I've seen less convincing performances in this type of "woman in a rough manly environment" roles. Most of the supporting actors are top-notch as well, particularly Tom Hardy as the sadistic street boss Pierre Jackson and Paul Kaye as the nerdy, nervous scientist Dr. Gelb who first introduces the detectives to the eponymous Price equation that eventually turns out to have an important effect on the killer's motivations. The references to animal behaviour and selfish genes are basically interesting but ultimately don't connect with the killer in a very convincing way. Part of it may have to do with certain actress's performance as the murderer (her identity is revealed relatively early on, so I don't think it's much of a spoiler to mention her gender here); the idea of such a fragile woman executing the gruesome acts all by herself is a bit hard to swallow.
At the end of the day, wAz is a very watchable combination of the thriller and the now-trendy torture porn genres. The wallowing in urban filth and examining the justifications of vigilantism have been done before in a more suspenseful way (comparisons to Se7en must be drawn once again), but for fans of the genre this one is recommended viewing as well. Others may wish to choose something else to watch altogether.
Like many serial killer tales, wAz (also known as The Killing Gene) follows two detectives as they investigate a series of gruesome murders of brutal lowlife figures in a big city. All the cases are connected with a mathematical equation featuring the eponymous "w delta z" carved into the flesh of the tortured and disfigured bodies. With the combined skills of a hardened veteran cop Eddie Argo (Stellan Skarsgård) and an idealistic rookie Helen Westcott (Melissa George), the murder spree starts unwinding and soon appears to be related to Eddie's past as a dirty cop...
Right from the first scene it becomes obvious that wAz is a strongly visual film. The nocturnal streets of the city are lit with beautifully designed lighting, the foremost ruling colour being strong green. Yellow is also utilized in creating a sinister mood during the numerous night scenes, while the day scenes are often tinted cool blue or urban gray. Despite the excellent cinematography, the hectic camera work never allows the viewer to properly relax and enjoy the visuals. The constant shakycam roaming is always a sure opinion divider; personally, I don't mind the technique if it is used tastefully, but in wAz it often feels more annoying than atmospheric. Generally speaking, long static shots force the audience to focus on what is happening on the screen without giving them a chance to hide between the shaking and quick cuts to different angles. This kind of raw presentation style free of distractions could have fit in this movie excellently, although then the violent scenes would probably have rocketed the age rating through the ceiling.
Speaking of the violence, it is detailed and plentiful (though doesn't exactly live up to the quote at the beginning of this review): blood, burns, cuts and other kind of injuries are given a decent amount of attention over the course of the story. The final scenes could be straight from the Saw series, while the more atmospheric investigation scenes derive more from David Fincher's suspenseful serial killer cat and mouse chase Se7en (1995), right from the relationship of the protagonists (veteran + rookie, although this type of dramatic pairing has been used for a long time) to the handsomely designed end credits.
The visuals and violence are not the only strengths of wAz, since the acting is generally very strong too. The charismatic Skarsgård oozes menace as the gruff, hardened Eddie Argo who still carries a well-hidden softer side and a sense of righteousness under the tough surface. Melissa George's role didn't strike me as memorably, although I've seen less convincing performances in this type of "woman in a rough manly environment" roles. Most of the supporting actors are top-notch as well, particularly Tom Hardy as the sadistic street boss Pierre Jackson and Paul Kaye as the nerdy, nervous scientist Dr. Gelb who first introduces the detectives to the eponymous Price equation that eventually turns out to have an important effect on the killer's motivations. The references to animal behaviour and selfish genes are basically interesting but ultimately don't connect with the killer in a very convincing way. Part of it may have to do with certain actress's performance as the murderer (her identity is revealed relatively early on, so I don't think it's much of a spoiler to mention her gender here); the idea of such a fragile woman executing the gruesome acts all by herself is a bit hard to swallow.
At the end of the day, wAz is a very watchable combination of the thriller and the now-trendy torture porn genres. The wallowing in urban filth and examining the justifications of vigilantism have been done before in a more suspenseful way (comparisons to Se7en must be drawn once again), but for fans of the genre this one is recommended viewing as well. Others may wish to choose something else to watch altogether.